Espreso. Global

Russia blocks registration of ships, flagrantly violating grain initiative

1 June, 2023 Thursday
19:38

Russia has blocked the registration of incoming fleet to all Ukrainian ports, causing losses of more than a billion dollars

Ukraine's Ministry of Communities, Territories and Infrastructure Development reported this. 

“The Joint Coordination Center (JCC) in Istanbul announced the impossibility of drawing up an inspection plan for June 1 due to another unreasonable refusal of the Russian delegation to register the incoming fleet for participation in the Initiative. Thus, within two days, on May 30 and 31, Russia registered only 1 incoming vessel for inspection at the port of Chornomorsk without explanation,” the press service writes, adding that other parties have confirmed 10 vessels for three ports for participation in the Black Sea Initiative.

50 ships are awaiting inspection in Turkish territorial waters to load 2.4 million tons of food for the world. This is almost twice as much as was exported in May. Some ships have been waiting for inspection for more than 3 months. This results in losses of more than USD 1 billion, which affects the final cost of food for the world.

“Thus, Russia has once again found a way to limit the world's food supply. Blocking the registration of a new incoming fleet, as well as blocking the largest port, Pivdennyi, is a gross violation of the terms of the grain initiative, to which the aggressor country has also signed up,” the ministry emphasizes.

The Ukrainian delegation demands that the JCC Secretariat resume full-fledged work with 3 inspection teams and 9 inspections per day. Ukrainian inspectors are ready to start working as soon as the registration of ships is restored.

Over the 10 months of the grain initiative, more than 30.5 million tons of Ukrainian products have been exported. However, over the past 7 months, the Russian delegation to the JCC has been sabotaging and slowing down its work, which has resulted in the world not receiving at least 20 million tons of food.

What is known about the stalling of the grain initiative

On May 17, the grain deal was extended for two months. Turkish president Erdogan confirmed this, noting that from now on, ships would also call at the ports of Mykolaiv and Olvia.

Ukraine's Ambassador to Turkey Vasyl Bodnar explained that the grain deal did not include new demands from Russia, but that they would be considered separately.

Russia said that the next two months will be crucial for the fate of the grain initiative and named 5 conditions for the continuation of the deal after July 17.

Ukraine, on the other hand, named its own conditions for agreeing to Russia's new demands under the grain deal.

On May 24, the US State Department announced that Russia has clearly violated its obligations under the grain initiative.

On May 25, US Ambassador to Ukraine Bridget Brink announced that Russia is blocking the entry of 28 ships to the Pivdennyi port.

Tags:
Read also:
  • News
2024, Tuesday
19 March
12:23
Updated
Poland, Germany to create armored coalition to support Ukraine
12:00
Exclusive
Situation in Bakhmut sector stabilizes — UAV crew commander
11:40
EU develops mechanism to transfer profits from frozen Russian assets to Ukraine - Bloomberg
11:15
Ukraine destroys 10 units of Russian heavy and motor vehicles in Zaporizhzhia sector
10:50
Russia may use private satellite data to strike Ukraine
10:20
Russian army loses 10 tanks, 30 artillery systems, 840 soldiers per day of war in Ukraine
09:55
Belgium prepares €412 million aid package for Ukraine
09:30
ISW explains how Putin will exploit 'record' election results in war against Ukraine
2024, Monday
18 March
22:00
Review
Victorious news of 754th day of war: over 600 Russian soldiers killed in Belgorod and Kursk regions, Drone Army destroys 88 tanks in two weeks
21:25
Russian army tries to break through Ukrainian defense 21 times in Novopavlivka sector - General Staff
21:07
Exclusive
Ukraine should prepare protest movements inside Russia - Free Idel-Ural representative
20:50
Putin to hold new wave of mobilization shortly after 'elections' - Ukraine's Defense Ministry
20:31
Russia may mobilize 300,000 residents of occupied Ukraine - Ukrainian official
20:10
President Iohannis approves training of Ukrainian pilots on F-16s at military base in Romania
19:48
Artillery fire advantage along frontline is 7:1 in Russia's favor - Ukrainian general
19:25
EU decides to allocate €5bn for military support to Ukraine
19:00
Exclusive
Russia has powerful weapons stockpiles in Crimea: OC South on threat of missile attacks
18:35
South Korean Defense Ministry estimates North Korea's ammunition transfers to Russia
18:14
Over 600 Russian military killed in Belgorod, Kursk regions - Freedom of Russia Legion
17:48
OPINION
Russia’s system will begin to self-destruct after sham elections
17:21
Exclusive
Moscow has timed it right: Chubarov on Russia's Crimea annexation 10 years ago
16:56
Russian troops plan offensive in Pokrovsk and Kurakhove areas
16:31
Exclusive
Russia continues to transfer additional resources to Avdiivka sector - Ukrainian colonel
16:10
Exclusive
Zgurets assesses risks regarding potential large-scale Russian mobilization
15:40
Putin threatens with World War III in case of conflict with NATO
15:15
Voting at gunpoint: how did elections in Russian-held Ukrainian territories look like?
14:50
Ukrainian government adopts €50 Billion Ukraine Facility plan from EU
14:35
Chinese Ambassador to Switzerland denies Kremlin support and arms supply to Russia
14:00
OPINION
Where sanctions against Russia don’t work, drones do
13:30
Exclusive
French in Odesa and on border with Transnistria: how Macron's initiative might unfold
12:50
Exclusive
Ukraine’s accession to NATO will be major achievement — British Ambassador to Ukraine Harris
12:20
Exclusive
Ukraine will receive window of opportunity for American aid in April, says political scientist Saakyan
11:49
Updated
Russian CEC reports 87% support for Putin. World's reactions
11:32
Ukraine's accession to EU: PM Shmyhal hopes negotiations will start in first half of 2024
11:00
OPINION
Those who shook hands with Putin are complicit in events in Bucha, Mariupol, Bakhmut, Avdiivka
10:40
Russia loses 810 soldiers, 19 tanks and 34 artillery systems per day - Ukraine's General Staff
10:15
Updated
Russian ballistic strike hits Mykolaiv causing casualties: 1 person killed, 9 injured
2024, Sunday
17 March
21:16
OPINION
Macron may become France's Reagan
20:46
Ukrainian fighters show successful expulsion of Russian troops from Krasnohorivka: video
20:16
Exclusive
Russian identity is rooted in imperialism — philosopher Kebuladze
More news